West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker champions FareShare Midlands' mission to tackle food insecurity and unemployment

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, visited FareShare Midlands to see first-hand how the charity is addressing food insecurity and reducing food waste, while also providing life-changing employability opportunities to jobseekers across the region.

FareShare Midlands is the region’s largest food redistribution charity, reaching over 83,000 people weekly through a network of more than 800 charities and community organisations. Last year, FareShare Midlands rescued surplus food equivalent to 11 million meals, including 4 million in the West Midlands alone, ensuring that good-quality food reaches those who need it most.

Paul Akroyd – Head of Volunteering & Employability, Laura Spencer – FSM Head of Commercial, Richard Parker – Mayor of the West Midlands, Simone Connolly – FSM CEO and Kat Roberts – FSM Head of Operations & Food.

During his visit, Mayor Parker learned how surplus food is collected, sorted and distributed by a dedicated team of over 12 staff and 600 volunteers. He also explored FareShare Midlands’ innovative SkillsShare Employability Programmes, designed to help individuals gain qualifications and find stable employment in a range of industries including warehousing, logistics and food production.

Unemployment, particularly among young people, is a pressing issue for the West Midlands, with rising costs of living exacerbating financial hardship and food poverty. Mayor Parker has made ‘Jobs for Everyone’ one of his key priorities, focusing on investing in skills, training and apprenticeships to ensure people have access to well-paid jobs. FareShare Midlands plays a crucial role in this mission by equipping jobseekers with essential skills and linking them to employment opportunities.

Funded by the UK Government through Birmingham City Council’s Pure Project, the I-Can programme provides tailored support, including CV writing, interview coaching, work experience, accredited qualifications, and forklift truck training provided by our training partner Challenge-trg Skills Ltd.

Other key employment initiatives include the Root2Rise programme funded by the National Zatak Foundation, which provides employability support and forklift truck training for Birmingham’s Islamic community, and two outreach programmes – Plus+ and Fuelling Futures - which help individuals overcome financial hardship and develop job-searching skills.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “It is a crime that so much food is wasted in our region while families are going hungry. FareShare Midlands is tackling these twin crises head-on – helping to alleviate poverty, cut food waste, and give people the skills and confidence they need to get into good jobs.

"It’s charities and community-led groups, like FareShare, that are prepared to roll up their sleeves and work tirelessly to support the people of our region. Last year alone, FareShare made 11 million meals reaching 83,000 vulnerable people. That’s why I am helping our charities and social enterprises access funding and support to continue driving real change where it matters most.”

Simone Connolly, Chief Executive of FareShare Midlands, added: “We were delighted to welcome Mayor Parker and share how we are expanding our impact beyond food redistribution. Through our employability programmes we are breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering people to secure meaningful work. We look forward to working closely with the Mayor’s office and local businesses to drive even greater change in the region.”

With FareShare Midlands playing a pivotal role in the Coronation Food Project - an initiative inspired by the King which is aimed at tackling food waste and food insecurity nationwide - the organisation is committed to expanding its reach and creating more opportunities for those in need.

Employers looking for trained and motivated staff, as well as individuals seeking support to develop skills and secure employment, are encouraged to get involved with FareShare Midlands' SkillsShare programmes. For more information, visit: https://www.faresharemidlands.org.uk/skillsshare-employability-programmes

We believe that good food is best eaten, not thrown away. Could your organisation divert surplus food to FareShare Midlands? Please get in touch: https://www.faresharemidlands.org.uk/food-donation